In 1537 Jane Seymour had died giving birth to King Henry the VIII’s only son, Edward. Henry’s chief minister Thomas Cromwell suggests Henry should marry a German princess. But, which one?

     Hans Holbein the Younger is dispatched to paint portraits of two princesses: Anne and her younger sister Amelia. After seeing her flattering portrait (now hanging in The Louvre), Henry chooses Anne without having ever met her. Born in Düsseldorf, the princess of the Duchy of Cleves doesn’t speak English.

     In My Lady of Cleves, Margaret Campbell Barnes traces the life of Anne from the painting of her portrait to Henry VIII’s death. Barnes portrays a warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become a queen.

     On their wedding night, Henry comes from their room and announces, “I like her not.” Henry feels deceived, that she’s no beauty. Although Holbein’s portrait suggests nothing horse-like, Anne receives the unflattering nickname “The Flanders Mare”.

     Anne was unprepared for Henry’s temper tantrums. She copes with his childish behavior and wins the hearts of the people of England. Anne comes across as witty and lively, especially once free of Henry. There’s drama and court intrigue, but Anne keeps her head – literally! Anne accepts an annulment and demotion. Anne writes, “…your highness will take me for your sister; for the which I most humbly thank you accordingly.”

     Author Margaret Campbell Barnes lived from 1891 to 1962, the youngest of ten children. She grew up near Sussex and lived in London. When she married a furniture salesman in 1917, she was already published.

     Between 1944 and 1962 Barnes wrote eighteen historical novels, many of them bestsellers. Over two million copies of her historical novels have been sold. Her historical novels include Brief Gaudy Hour, With All My Heart, Isabel the Fair, and The King's Bed.

     Barnes was encouraged by her agent Curtis Brown to write historical novels after the death of her son Michael, a lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps who died in his tank in the Allied advance from Caen to Falaise in Normandy in 1944. She lived in a small thatched cottage on the Isle of Wight  that had been a smuggler’s hideaway.

     One of Barnes strengths is her wonderful character development. When you read Barnes’ books you get the feeling you’re there in time and place.

     Anne of Cleves died at Hever Castle ten years after Henry died. What was the effect of her close relationship with Henry’s children Edward and Mary? It would have been interesting if Barnes had followed Anne to the end, through Edward’s reign and through Mary’s reign. And, did Hans Holbein fall in love with Anne?

     In My Lady of Cleves you feel you get to know the woman who was queen for six months and who was shrewd enough to keep her head when many around her didn’t.

     Anne can also be seen in the third season of Showtime’s The Tudors, played by Joss Stone.

My Lady of Cleves Trade paperback: 352 pages, Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2008)  Language: English ISBN-13: 978-1402214318